In 1944, a groundbreaking exhibition, Mid-European Art, was held at Leicester’s New Walk.

Thought up by energetic curator Trevor Thomas, it was full of work from private collections brought to England by refugee artists and buyers fleeing Hitler and the National Socialist Party, and spawned one of the finest domestic German Expressionist collections, full of powerful emotions in work by those who informed, were involved in or became influenced by the movement.

Almost 70 years later – and 36 years after organisers decided to give it prestige by writing the acquisition of modern German art into their buying policy – highlights from the 350-strong selection have been put on permanent display, gathered by art lovers including Tekla Hess, the widow of the Erfut shoe manufacturer and renowned collector Alfred Hess, and the art historian Dr Rosa Schapire.

Notable initial pieces included Franz Marc’s Red Woman, Lyonel Feininger's Behind The Church, Emil Nolde's Head with Red-Black Hair and Max Pechstein's The Bridge at Eruft, all originally assembled by Hess.

The haul continues to grow, but for now their return to prominence is a welcome development in a city whose collection could draw envious eyes from European curators.